Be Hear Now is back for another round, proving Ballarat's music scene keeps churning out serious new talent.
Ballarat’s music mentorship program Be Hear Now is celebrating its sixth year, with five new artists set to release brand new singles this October.
Now firmly established as a fixture of the local music calendar, Be Hear Now pairs emerging Ballarat artists with high-profile industry mentors, puts them through a masterclass program delivered alongside the state’s music industry development body, and sends them into the studio to record, mix and master an original single, backed by a full publicity, photography and graphic design campaign.
Participants also walk away with a release strategy, marketing and promotion support, help getting their music onto major streaming platforms, and training across areas like brand development, live performance, touring and playlist pitching.
Following a strong 2025 edition, this year’s program is once again backed by Creative Ballarat, part of a city that holds UNESCO Creative City status for its craft and folk art scene, and continues to treat local music as a genuine priority.
Be Hear Now 2026
- Single releases: 14 October
- Listening party: Kank Wolverang Records, 15 October
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Be Here Now 2026
This year’s participants are The Darlings Family Trust, Oscar Perrett, Backyard Utopia, Atomic Entourage and Patlova, each paired with their own industry mentor.
Oscar Perrett has been working with Johnny Took from DMA’s, The Darlings Family Trust with Hayley Mary from The Jezebels, Backyard Utopia with Jeff Lang, Atomic Entourage with Raul Sanchez from Magic Dirt, and Patlova with Jessica Cerro, best known as Montaigne.
The artists themselves span an enormous range.
Atomic Entourage are a four-piece built on sun-drenched surf rock and classic pub rock, currently touring their debut self-titled album with sold-out shows spanning Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, the Sunshine Coast and Townsville, and a fan base that now reaches right up the eastern seaboard.
Backyard Utopia, made up of Bec Matthews and Jamie Swann, weave west African instruments like the kora and kamelngoni into banjo, cigar box and baritone guitar, landing somewhere between folk and something harder to categorise.
Oscar Perrett worked directly with Johnny Took on his single Back To Me, pairing punchy guitar riffs with hooky pop melodies and a scrappy, self-made attitude that’s already picked up spins on Double J and Triple J’s Drive.
Patlova brings the chaos, a Ballarat electronic producer who’s spent more than 10 years in the local scene, serving up rave and hard house tracks built to hit just as hard in headphones as on a packed dancefloor, best known for Cuck Chair landing in RAGE’s top 50 clips.
And The Darlings Family Trust, hailing from nearby Gordon, close out the lineup with acoustic, harmony-heavy songs that drift between folk, blues and country, having already supported acts like Fanning Dempsey National Park and Skyscraper Stan on the road.
It’s all part of a bigger picture for Ballarat’s music scene, which Creative Ballarat has also been backing through a local playlist series and a short documentary by rising local talent James Turner, exploring the challenges and opportunities facing regional music today.
None of these artists are starting from scratch, and that’s the point. Be Hear Now isn’t inventing a scene, it’s giving one that already exists the tools to be heard properly.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with City of Ballarat.
